Traffic signal



y 20, 3 E. H. PIRON 1,759,368

TRAFFI C S I GNAL Filed Jan. 51, 1929 2 Sheefs-Sheet 1 E. H. PIRON 1,759,368

TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed Jan. 51, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 20, 1930.

Patented May 20, 1930 umreo ATESPATEN EMIL PIRON, 013 DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO NOBLE AND"HARRIS, F -DE TROIT, MICHIGAN TRAFFIC siGnAL Application filed-January 31, 1929, Serial No. 336,401;

This invention relates to traflic signals and has for its object to provide an improved means for indicating trafiic directions which will be clearly visible during periods of claylight and darkness.

Another object of the invention is to provide a traiiic signal which readily lends itself to timing or to re-timing to meet changing conditions and which, when synchronized with other signals in series, will constantly operate in any desired sequence without departure from predetermined time intervals of signal indication. i t

A further object is to provide a traffic signal which may perform theadditional duties of a street light and illuminated street marker without requiring add1t1onal lightlng currentover and above that ordinarily employed to operate the signal itself. I

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a traffic signal wherein reflecting 7 surfaces are employed to project'clear-cut images of lettering or colored: light rays both by artificialand natural light in the direction of each lane of traffic for control thereof and to provide means for periodically varying the reflectedimages in a predetermined orderly sequence,

Incarrying the invention into effect, I employ preferably one reflecting surface for each lane of'traflic to be controlled. 'The colored signals or directions'reflected may be secured by transparent or translucent screens so arranged as to permit raysof light to filter therethrough onto the reflecting surfaces. If desired, of course, illuminated figures, letters or colored surfaces" might be employed for reflection, but I recommend the use of rays filtering directly through some colored ,translucent or semi-transparent material such as glass. In the preferred embodiment, thelight filter is of the form of a segmental glass disc rotatably mounted in a favorable position with respect to the reflecting surfaces, each segment thereof being of a size and color to be hereinafter more fully explained. The colored discs are so housedas to'be capable of utilizing the natural daylight rays during the daytime, whereas a lamp in the roof of my device is illuminated'at night to provide taken along line 4* a source of light for reflections during periods ofdarkness- Among the other objects of my invention, I may also relate insured constancy of operation, improved appearance, improved utility due to its utility'as a street indicator and 1 panying drawings wherein is illustrated, by way of example, one embodiment of my 1nvention and wherem:

Figure 1 is a front or side elevation of my improved traffic signal;

Figure 2 isa transverse sectional view taken through the center of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view ;taken along line 3 i3 of Figure 2; and

. Figure 4 l of Figure 2;

is a horizontal sectional VlBW' Referring'more particularlyto the draw ings, reference character lrefers to a support of'any desired type to which is attached'the traflic signal designated generally bythe nu ineral 2,'it being obvious'that the signal may be suspendable or otherwise mountable if desired. In the illustration'shown, the signal 2 has a flared base 3 upon which is mounted a two parthousing 4t, 5, the latter having sidewalls preferably -made of a transparent or translucentmaterial,such as glass, which converge upwardly to a'reflector 6'for a lamp 7.

Stays or braces 8 provide ample support for a reflecting cap 6 which may extend well down along the sidewalls of the housing,or, preferably, limited in extent to a horizontal plane immediately above or directly through the center ofthe lamp 7 so that the rays of the lamp may be utilized to illuminate the vicinity around the signal in the manner of a street light. I y

The lower part 4 of the housing Serves as protection, and, if desired, as lenses for a plurality of angularly disposed reflecting surfaces 9, herein'shown as being four in number.

These reflectors are so placed as to directly V receivejthe rays of light from the lamp 7 and also natural daylight rays entering t in the daytime through the-light permeable sidewallsof the upper housing whereby such rays are reflected in the direction of thevari- I 'ous lanes of tratfiq hereinregarded as being four.

Immediately above the reflecting surfaces 9, 11 segmentallight permeable disc 10 is rotatably mounted for interceptionof the rays of light traveling toward the said surfaces.

The disc is, in this instance, as illustrated in Figure 4, composed of four segments, twoof;

which 10 and 11 are three times as large as the other two 12 and 13. The segments 10' and 11 are of colored glass an d may be of the colorfmost generally used todenote Stop, namely, red. 7 The segments 12 and 13 may be of the conventional color for Go, namely,

green. vBy thisarrangement, with the disc in. the position shown, it is obvious that traffic may proceed along one street while being held from crossing transversely thereof. 7 Upon rotation of the disc through one-eighth of a circle or forty-five degreesjthe' green segments will each be between two reflecting 'lend itself to ready changesfor purposes of synchronization with other si nals.

surfaces as indicated by the dotted positions 14 anddirectly over two of four shields 14 spaced at these. two positions. There are twoother shields 14. at points ninety degrees;

removed from this position. The green segments will therefore be entirely shielded and red rays will be reflectedffrom all surfaces,

holding up traffic in all directions. Further rotation of the disc throughforty five degrees exposes the reen segments to the reflectors in the dotted position indicated as 15. I

' It is preferable that the disc should rotate lvery quickly during changes of positionand that it should, of course, stop for a desired number of seconds in each position. It is also desirable'that the timin'gjbe such as to I t For this purpose, Ihave illustrated one way in which this 'may readily. be affected although I desire to state that: the timing 'may readily be affected 'ffOHL a remotely located board as in the manner controlling lights in many trafficsignals now known,

and that thisparticular, means for effecting operation is to be considered merely illustrative of one mode of carrying out operation.

A small electric or other motor "16, of, any suitable type is suitably mounted above the segmental disc. ,Mountedon the motor shaft is a gear 17 which-meshes with a gear 18 through which extends the shaft 19. Mountedonthis shaft is a drive wheel 20 for actu-' ation of a variable speed sprocket'wheel 21 mounted on a shaft 22. Drive wheel 20 is equipped with two driving pins 23 and 24;

one ofwhich is located at a greater distance from the center of the wheel than the other "10, 11,12 and 13.

for a purpose to become hereinafter apparent, it being noted at this point that the inner 1 pin 23 is so placed as to provide a driving conj nection for the sprocket-21 when contacting et wheel 29 mounted on a shaft'30 towhich is rigidly attached the segmental color disc .Theoperation is as follows: Suppose the motor shaft has a constant speed of one rev0. lution per second, then the speedof the gear tion every two and a half'seconds. This, of

' course, means that the drive wheel 20 revolves Y at such intervals eitherthe drive pins 23' or once in every two and a half seconds and that 18 and shaft 19 should be about one revolu- 24 will actuate the sprocketwheel 21a-dis tance which will be equal to the 'widthof the;

teeth. 7 If the wheel 20 is turning in thedi rection indicated in Figure 8 the pin 24 after approximately two-thirds of a revolution will engage a lower tooth 26 imparting one- 1 eighth of a revolution to the sprocket wheel;

21 which in turn rotates the second drive w 100.

revolution from the position shown whereby V j the sprocket wheel 29 and the signal disc are substantially instantaneously rotated j through one eighth of a revolution. Thus, ifv Lwe assume the segments to have been as indi-v wheel 27 (Figure 4) through one-eighth of a cated in Figure4, the green segments 12 and l3ewould be instantaneously removed toa-f'. 1

shielded position betwen the reflecting sur-I faces. The disc will stop at this point for V "makes another completerevolution, where 4 two and a half seconds or until the pinj24' upon the-lower tooth 26 is engaged for mm 7 ation of one-eighth of arevolutlonwhereupon the green segments are instantaneously 'movedto the dotted positionsindicated by numerals 15. The period of. revolution of I thedriveshaft 19 and the, distance of the pin 24 from the shaft then determine the lengthiof time to be allowed between reversal of signals.

After the green, lighthas beenchanged to its new position, the inner pin 23 upon the next revolution of the drive wheel 20 engages an outer tooth 25, one tooth being driven forward the length of its width every two and a half seconds during which time the drive wheel 27 is merely revolving its pins 28 freely until a revolution again places them in position for further actuation of the color ed disc. Thus if we employ the number of teeth shown, twenty-five in number, it will take 67 seconds before the signal again changes to red on all sides. WVith this ar-' ment to be replaced in case of a change in timin g it is rather a simple matter to carry a few extra sprocket wheels in stock for this purpose.

In order to synchronize the signal with other signals, in view of the unvarying speed of the driving unit or motor 16, it is merely necessary to turn all lights to a full red position and then allow each one to advance a certain number of predetermined seconds in turn while the first signal is cut off which will rep resent a definite number of sprocket teeth advancement. This timing, when once set, will never vary with the motor recommended, so that the lights will not get out of synchronization provided they are thereafter turned on and off in unison.

A housing 30 for the disc controlling mechanism may assume the shape of a quadrilateral pyramid, if desired, it being necessary to so construct the housing that it does not interfere with the rays from the lamp 7 The sides of this housing, being surrounded by glass, may readily be utilized as a street marker in the manner shown in Figure 1. The advantage of this arrangement is that it is well lightedat night and furthermore it is a convenience to the motorist which likewise permits him to give his attention todriving whereas a diversion of his attention for the purpose of seeking information as to his whereabouts might lead to an accident.

Insofar as this invention is concerned, it will be readily appreciated that illuminated figures, devices or surfaces may be considered as the equivalent of a transparentscreen, although I prefer the latter, as such illuminated surfaces maybe viewed by reflection through the reflecting mirrors quite effectively and traffic accordingly directed. It will also be apparent that the invention is not limited to a single disc or screen andthat the several reflectors may be equipped with separate individual operated screens, for instance; and many arrangements may be used to embody the invention and that numerous types of drives might be employed to vary the signals thereof and I therefore desire to be limited in the construction and application of my invention only by. the scope of the appended claims, wherein:

What I claim is:

'1. In a traflic signal, a reflecting surface, a plurality ,of signals to be reflected, and

means forperiodically changing the signals so reflected. 7 7

2. In a traiflc signal, a reflecting surface, a plurality of signals to be reflected, and

means for periodically shifting said signals to reflective and non-reflective respect to said surface. V '3. In a traflic signal, a plurality of reflectpositions with ing surfaces, a plurality of signals to be reflected by said surfaces, and means for period- 'ically exposing said signals to said surfaces for reflection thereby.

4. In a traiflc signal, a plurality of angu i larly disposed reflectlng surfaces, one of saidp' surfaces facing each directionof traflic, light transmitting signals above said reflecting surfaces and means for periodically rotating saidsignals to reflective and non-reflective positions with respect to said surfaces.

5. In a traiiic signal, a plurality of angularly disposed reflecting surfaces, a disc having segmental light transmitted signals abovesaid surfaces for reflection thereby and means for periodically rotating said disc whereby the reflections of said signals will periodically change. a

6. In a traffic signal, a plurality of angularly disposed reflecting surfaces, atranslucent disc comprised of colored segments rotatably mounted above saidsurfaces for reflection pass therethrough whereby the colorsof said segments are reflected from said reflecting nals, timed means periodically exposing said signals to said surfaces in rotation, and an arthereby', said discs allowing daylight rays to tilicial light for illuminating said reflecting,

surfaces. v 1 a Y 8. Ina trafic signal, a plurality of instruc nals, timed means periodically exposing said slgnals ilO'SiLld surfaces in rotatlon, sard re- *rio I t1ve signals, reflecting surfaces for S2L1dS1g fleeting surfaces being adapted for illumination by daylight during thedaytime and by artificial light duringperiods of darkness. f

9. In a traflic signal, a disc comprising segmental translucent colored segments, reflecting surfaces for raysof light passing through said segments, timed means for intermittently rotating said disc whereby the color of the reflected frays may be varied, and a lampabove said disc for illuminating said reflecting surfaces through said segments.

10. In a traflic signal, a plurality of transparent or translucent signals, angularly disposed reflecting surfaces for said signals,

timed/means for periodically exposing said signals singly to said surfaces, said signals being arranged to pass rays of daylight for 100 surfaces and means for rotating said disc. 4 whereby the colors reflected will periodically 4o v y. by each of-sa1dsurfaces,a constant speed 1110- p reflection during the "daytime and rays'from a lamp duringperiods of darkness.

'11. In a traflic signal, a housing, a lamp having a reflector therefor in the top of said housing, a truncated pyramid having reflective sides Within said housing below said 7 lamp, said sides each being'directly exposed. to the rays of said lamp, "translucent colored signals between said lamp andsaid surfaces and means for periodically rotating said signals whereby the colors reflected by said surfaces will periodically change.

12. In a traffic signal, a housing having I transparent or translucent walls, a lamp havingja reflector in thetop of said housing, a truncated pyramid having reflective sides within said housingbelow said lamp, each of r said sidesbeingdirectly exposed to the-rays of said lamp, translucent colored signals for intercepting rays of sunlight through the transparent/walls of said housing and the rays of lightfrom said lamp and means for I periodically changing the color of said signals for reflection by each of said surfaces.

13. In a traflic signal, a reflecting surface,

a plurality of-signals vfor reflection by said surface and means for instantaneously shifta ing said signals from reflective to non-reflective positions between periods of rest.

14. In a trafiic signal, a plurality of reflecting surfaces, a plurality of signals for reflection from saidsurfaces, an'd'means for pre senting each 'ofsaid signals to each of said surfaces singly and in'rotation for reflection thereby,-said means instantaneously varying the signals presented during periods of rest; 15. In a trafiic signal, a plurality of reflecting surfaces, a rotatable signal disc comprising colored segments, each segment of said of the signal reflected.

disc presenting a directing color for reflection tor, and driving 'means'between said disc and sa1'd:motor, sa1d means instantaneously rotating said disc over one segment between periods of rest whereby the directions totraffic may be quickly varied according to the nature 16. Ina traffic signal, four angularly disposed equall spaced reflecting surfaces, a

translucent. isc comprisingeight segments z of equal size, SlX of said segments being red,

two" of said segments being green, four shields,'each havingthe dimensions of one of said segments equally spaced below said disc, whereby four of said segments may be shlelded from saldreflectingsurfaces, means for periodically rotating said disc, said disc upon rotation causing a reflection of red rays from two opposite reflecting surfaces and green rays from the other two reflecting surfaces in one position, red rays from all four surfaces at another position and green and a red rays under actuation to a further position. In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. 

